April 16, 2014 (Campo) – The Mountain Empire Campo Kiwanis invites you to savor an afternoon of leisure in the beautiful backcountry, riding the historic Pacific Southwest rails.  The journey departs from the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, where a $45 ticket includes wine tasting by the East County Vintners Association, live presentations by local wineries, heavy hors d’oeuvres, presentations by historians and wineries, as well as a scenic train ride.

April 17, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

April 17, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• IRS Chasing Children For Dead Parents' Debts (NPR)
• Three border officials face charges (SD Reader)
• A look at chances of getting audited by IRS (UT San Diego)
• Obama Administration Slapped With 'Muzzle Awards' for Threatening Free Expression (Reason)
• Senate report: Interrogation methods 'far worse' than CIA acknowledged (CS Monitor)
•  Three people killed in shootings at Jewish centers in Kansas (Reuters)

WORLD

• Water flows to Colorado River Delta  (U-T San Diego)
• Rwanda, the world's swiftest genocide (CS Monitor)
• (2 powerful earthquakes hit Solomon Islands (AP)
• A look at Ukraine's fast-growing Russian gas bill (UT San Diego)
• Can Russia's military fly without Ukraine's parts? (CS Monitor)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

April 15, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – In 2012, we reported on a potentially promising new technology to build roadways out of glass capable of producing solar power.

April 16, 2015 (El Cajon) – Homegrown live music from seven bands with a diverse mix of styles will be coming to Cuyamaca College with the return of the Coyote Music Festival from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. Now in its sixth year, the free outdoor festival has retained its eclectic vibe, with a host of young talent playing everything from coffeehouse acoustic pop to Tejano rock. The mostly young crew of volunteers is a reminder that the event is actually a class assignment for students enrolled in Music Industry Studies, a transfer degree program unique locally to Cuyamaca College that focuses on the practical aspects of developing careers in the music industry.

April 16, 2014 (San Diego County) - Easter bunnies are cute and cuddly--but wild rabbits found locally may be carrying a dangerous disease known as Rabbit Fever, County health officials warn this week. The disease is carried by ticks—so it’s important to know how to protect yourself if you’re hiking or working in brushy areas.

Easter egg-stravaganza events and much more!

By Ariele Johannson

April 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination: East County begins with a Chamgane Brunch, glow-in-the-dark egg hunt and other Easter events--then ends with fishing and a Spring Harp Festival.

But that's not all. We have a fabulous preview of some great upcoming events all right here in East County and San Diego’s inland region.

April 16, 2014 (El Cajon) – Inequality for All, a film by Robert Reich,  documents how  massive consolidation of wealth by a handful of people threatens the middle class, the viability of the American workforce and the foundation of democracy . Reich is the former U.S. Secretary of Labor and professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The film will be shown on April 17 at 7:15 p.m. during a meeting of the East County Democratic Club at  Coco's Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92020.  A discussion will be held after the film showing.  View a film trailer here: 

East County News Service

Source: Senator Joel Anderson

April 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Senator Joel Anderson’s office has provided a list of scholarships  and grants available.  Below is a list, along with other helpful information share with college students and soon-to-be college students.

"My wife and I are the proud parents of two college graduates and we know first-hand how expensive college can be these days. That’s why we want you to have this valuable information," says Senator Anderson (R-Alpine).

By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2014 (Washington D.C.) –Veterans from across America converged on Capitol Hill on March 31, meeting with members of Congress and the administration. They sought help to prevent suicides among returning veterans.

Photo (left): Ivanpah Solar testing; photo by  Tom Budlong

Photo (center): warbler with over 50% of its feathers burned was found alive, but died of its injuries

Monarch butterfly (photo, right) numbers are down 90% in the most recent Pacific migration

By Miriam Raftery

April 15, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Last month we reported that themonarch butterflies’ annual migration to Mexico is down 90%.  Various theories have been proposed.  But now a newly released study by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reveals  that “hundreds  upon hundreds of butterflies” including monarchs, along with dragonflies, were found dead at the Ivanpah solar site.

April 15, 2014 (San Diego County) - The Keystone pipeline proposal has hit a Nebraska stop sign, but it has deeper problems than right-of-way issues across the United States.  After all, the controversial proposal for transporting Alberta’s tar sands across America was never just about the pipeline.  Just ask the thousand students who rallied in front of the White House recently, who were willing to be arrested to make their point.

April 14, 2014 (Mt. Helix) -- On Saturday, May 17, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, part two of Mt. Helix Park’s Nature/Sustainable Living lecture series will be held in the ampitheater atop Mt. Helix.This free, one-hour lecture on landscaping with California native plants will feature guest  speaker, Greg Rubin, President of California’s Own Native Landscape Design, Inc. and co-author of "The  California Native Landscape: The Homeowner's Guide to Restoring Its Beauty and Balance.”

By Nicolee Hill          

April 1, 2014

April 15, 2014 (La Mesa)-- Master Goldsmith and Jewelry Designer, Terry Whyte of Golden Artistry Jewelry Design is hosting this annual competition to be held in conjunction with Golden Artistry’s 30th anniversary. The event will be held on May 2, 2014 from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at the La Mesa Woman's Club, 5220 Wilson, La Mesa , CA 91942. Numerous local vendors and restaurants will be donating gifts and services to be raffled off. In addition, Terry Whyte will auction off one of his original pieces of jewelry and the Grand Prize winning design.  All proceeds will go to the Golden Artistry Foundation which will disperse funds to local schools’ jewelry programs and to the internships at Golden Artistry.  Members of the community are encouraged to participate in this event.

April 15, 2014 (Pala)--The Pala Band of Mission Indians announced today that Tribal Chairman Robert Smith will be recognized as Community Partner of the Year by the San Diego County School Boards Association at an awards ceremony on May 2.